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Three circular bowls arranged in a row with the middle bowl containing a brewed tea sample, flanked by two bowls with dry tea leaves on the left and brewed tea liquid on the right, and a 'Great Taste' award seal at the top centre.
  • Three circular bowls arranged in a row with the middle bowl containing a brewed tea sample, flanked by two bowls with dry tea leaves on the left and brewed tea liquid on the right, and a 'Great Taste' award seal at the top centre.
  • A blue background with a blue cast iron teapot, a mug of black tea and slice of cake on a plate, a large purple tinged flower and a tin of loose leaf tea.
  • A tin containing loose-leaf decaffeinated black tea with a white label and a botanical sketch of a tea plant.

Decaf Breakfast

£2.75

Not sure which size? Read our quick size guide →

 

This is my everyday decaf: a proper, full-bodied loose-leaf breakfast black tea for anyone who wants a real, robust cup without the caffeine. The trouble with most decaf is that you can taste the decaffeination; some processes strip the flavour right out, and others leave a faintly chemical aftertaste. This one is different, and the difference is all in the method.

It is decaffeinated using carbon dioxide, the gentlest method there is. In short, the leaves are moistened and pressurised CO2 is passed through them, drawing the caffeine out while leaving the flavour largely untouched. CO2 is just the natural, odourless gas in the air we breathe, so there is no solvent and no nasty chemical taste left behind; it is even captured and reused for the next batch. Of all the ways to take the caffeine out of tea, this is the one that keeps the most of what you actually want.

Decaffeinating any tea softens its punch a little, so I have started with a characterful, high-grown black tea to give it plenty to work with: an Orthodox Flowery Pekoe from the Travancore region of South India, grown between 4,500 and 5,500 feet. The result is a genuinely full-bodied cup, rich and fruity with a gentle floral note, brisk enough to take milk and stand up as your morning tea. It is also a Great Taste Award winner, which, for a decaf, is a genuinely good sign.

One honest note: decaffeinated is not quite the same as caffeine-free. A tiny trace of caffeine always remains after decaffeination, far less than a normal cup, but not zero, so if you need to avoid caffeine entirely, one of my naturally caffeine-free infusions would be the safer choice.

It is a proper black tea in every way but the caffeine, and it is lovely with or without milk. Because decaf can brew a touch gentler than you expect, use at least a generous teaspoon and give it a good four to five minutes.

 

Ingredients || Black Tea (Decaffeinated)

Warning, packed in an environment that contains nuts

Caffeine || Decaffeinated (a trace remains; not caffeine-free)

Tasting Notes || Full-bodied, rich and fruity, with a gentle floral note; takes milk

Brewing Notes || 1 generous teaspoon per cup, 100ºC, brew for 4 minutes.

 

Customer Reviews

Based on 11 reviews
73%
(8)
0%
(0)
9%
(1)
18%
(2)
0%
(0)
S
Susan Morgan
Don’t drink anything else

Since I switched to decaffeinated everything, this is my regular tea. I still want the taste of a good strong tea but without the caffeine and this is perfect. I love proper loose tea - and this is it.

J
John Halski
Decaf Tea

We ordered the 250g refill pack because we loved the first 100g Tin we tried but we have noticed that we need more tea than one teaspoon per person to make it as we like it. Otherwise very happy.

H
H Watson
Not for me

Wanted this to work, good quality tea, but far too weak for me.

A
Alan Didymus

Decaf Breakfast

S
Steven Pearse
Another excellent decaf

A strong, robust breakfast tea – better than most other breakfast teas I’ve tried so very impressive it’s decaf!

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